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I smile at him, my heart swelling. But then a yawn escapes me, making me giggle. I glance at the clock on the bedside table – it's late.
"Do you need to go back?" I ask, my eyelids feeling heavy.
Dean folds me into his arms, pulling the covers over us. "Not yet," he whispers.
And with his arms around me, his heartbeat acting as my lullaby, I drift off to sleep, feeling safe, loved, and perfectly imperfect.
Chapter five
Dean
"Daddy,Daddy,Lily'sturnedinto a princess!"
Ava's shrill laughter jolts me out of an otherwise peaceful sleep.
"Give daddy a minute, sweetheart," I grunt, rubbing my eyes.
"But Daddy!" Ava persists, her voice a cute whine that I've long since grown immune to.
I sigh, pulling the pillow off my face and glancing at the clock on the wall. It's way too early for this. But one look at my daughter's eager face, and I know I'm not going back to sleep anytime soon.
"Alright, alright," I grumble, swinging my legs over the side of the bed and standing up. Ava squeals with delight, grabbing my hand and dragging me out of the room.
We walk down the hallway towards Lily's room. The door is ajar, and as we step inside, I notice all of the little details that I was too busy to take in last night.
It's like stepping into a fairy tale. The walls are a pastel pink, dotted with delicate white flowers. A canopy bed sits in the center, draped with sheer, glittering curtains. On one side, there's a vanity table cluttered with hair brushes, makeup, and various trinkets. The room smells of vanilla and roses, a sweet scent that makes me feel oddly at ease.
I look down at the bed, and my heart catches in my throat. Lily is lying there, her blonde hair a mess on the pillow, curled up in a ball on the bed in the same dress she was showing me last night. She's snoring softly, her face peaceful in sleep.
A pang of affection hits me, and I walk over to her, gently tapping her on the shoulder.
"Wake up, princess," I say softly.
Her blue eyes flutter open, then grow wide when she sees me standing over her. She looks startled, but before she can say anything, I reassure her, "Everything's fine, Lily."
Ava bounces on her toes, her eyes shining with excitement. "Lily, you turned into a princess!" she exclaims, clapping her hands together.
Lily looks from Ava to me, confusion written all over her face. But then she smiles a soft, beautiful smile that makes my heart ache even more.
"Well, I guess I did," she says, playing along with Ava's fantasy.
A slight creaking sound breaks the moment, and Melanie, my younger sister, walks into the room, suitcase in hand. Her face lights up when she sees me, and she sets her suitcase down, enveloping me in a hug.
"Hey, big brother," she says, her voice muffled against my shoulder. "I'm glad to be home."
It's been months since I've seen her. Melanie and her twin sister, Marlie, are both sophomores in college. They go to school back in California, where their dad lives. She's staying with us for the holidays, and I couldn't be happier.
"Sorry to burst in, but I knocked, but no one answered," She says. "So I let myself in."
"No worries, how was your flight?"
"Longer than I'd have liked," Melanie replies, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "But the sight of my darling niece is worth any plane ride." She grins, ruffling Ava's hair before setting down her suitcase.
"Aunt Mel, Lily turned into a princess!"
Melanie chuckles. Her gaze flickers between Lily and me, a knowing smirk playing on her lips.
"Is that so?" she teases, bending down to pick Ava up in her arms. "Well, how about we let the princess rest for a while longer and go downstairs to make breakfast?"
